GOis to announce two new destinations next month as competition among low-cost airlines at Stansted mounts.
The additional routes follow moves by the British Airways subsidiary to increase frequencies to its main destinations in Europe.
Network manager Steven Horner said the planned services would begin next year but refused to say which European cities Go is looking to serve. “We have a 13th aircraft coming into the fleet in December,” he said. “This could mean a start for early next year.”
By early next summer, the airline will have a total of 15 Boeing 737s with which to expand its network. The planned routes are expected to be destinations in Italy, Germany or France. Scandinavia is also an obvious choice for Go as at the moment it only serves Copenhagen.
Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Amsterdam are underserved, said Horner. “Only 4% of Italians have flown and the market there will expand.”
He said Go was modelling itself loosely on the highly successful US low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines which increased its business by 20% a year.
Most of Go’s routes are already to Spain and Italy, with France, which the airline does not serve, effectively splitting its network into west and central European countries.
It is to increase capacity for the start of the winter schedule, with extra flights to Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Milan, Munich, Madrid and Barcelona.
Horner said plans were also being put together for a second hub to match the airline’s Stansted base. A decision on which city Go will choose will be made within 18 months. The airline will be able to offer intra-European flights if it sets up a base in mainland Europe. A second UK base is also being considered and the airline has already been in discussion with Manchester Airport.
GO facts
Ownership: British Airways.
Chief executive: Barbara Cassani.
Sales and marketing director: David Magliano.
Marketing manager: Mireille Briggs.
Destinations from Stansted: Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Prague, Munich, Milan, Bologna, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Malaga, Faro and Lisbon.
Service: assigned seating; in-flight food and drink, including alcohol, to buy; all economy seating in 3-3 configuration; ticketless; boarding pass issued on production of passport or ID at check-in.
Bookings: direct and through the Internet. Agents generally charge a £10 booking fee.
Passengers: business 30%; leisure 70%. Business customers growing.
Web site: www.go-fly.com